Apparatus for the application of electric hydro-physio therapeutics



Dec. 24, 1929. P. J. PEEL 1,740,624

APPARATUS FOR THE APPLICATION 0; ELECTRIC- HYDRO-PHYSIO-THERAPEU'HCS I Filed June 25, 1927 Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PETER J. PEEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Application filed June 25, 1927. Serial No. 201,404.

This invention relates to improvements in an apparatus for the treatment of paralytic and other cases requiring treatment by liq- 'uid flotation.

In ailments of this character movement of the helpless member or part by an operator or manipulator is carried on until the nervous system of the patient which controls the movement of that member, part or parts, takes up the suggestion to an extent whereby the patient may regain use of the member, part or parts. When the patients member or other part to be treated is utterly helpless it is quite a laborious task for 1 the operator or manipulator to raise or lower or otherwise actuate that member or other part for any appreciable length of time. This has led to treatment of such cases by the use of a method known as liquid flotation wherein the patient is placed in a body of liquid so that the member or part to be treated is immersed, the purpose of this immersion being that the buoyancy of the liquid helps to support the member or part and minimize the effort required to move it.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus with which this method of treating paralytic and other cases by liquid flotation may be carried out in an efficient manner, and without wetting the clothing or person of the operator.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character wherein the operator not only is enabled to do his work efficiently without wetting his clothing or person, but he also, at all times, has the member or part being treated in full view.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will hereinafter be more fully described and the novel features thereof particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevational View of an apparatus embodying the present improvements; and

Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof.

In accordance with the present invention the patient to be treated stands, sits or floats within a tank which is adapted to contain a liquid, the depth of the liquid in the tank being such that the limb or part of the patient to be treated is completely immersed. In this way the buoyancy of the liquid in the tank aids in the motility of the patients extremity, member or part.

It is, of course, undesirable for the operator to be in the tank also and to avoid this necessity means are provided for permitting the operator to stand or sit on the exterior of the tank and administer manipulative treatment to the patient in the tank. In the preferred embodiment the tank should be approximately four feet high and in the neighborhood of six feet long with a width of three feet. These dimensions need not be adhered to. In order that the operator may have a clear view of the patient from the exterior of the tank, one or more of the sides (10) of said tank are made of transparent material, such as transparent glass. In one side of said tank the glass is formed with two apertures (11) and secured to the said side or wall around those openings are a pair of armlets, elongated gloves gauntlets, (12) or other protective means of ingress through said wall, the attachments of the armlets, gloves, gauntlets or other protective means of ingress through said wall being such that a water-tight joint is formed. Preferably, these openings are arranged in the wall of the tank, as shown, but it will be understood that their location and character depend upon the convenience of the operator, the primary object being to give him access to any part of the body of the batient. Only one pair of such gaunt- 1 lets is shown, but additional gauntlets or other devices similarly attached may be provided if a larger tank is used or if, for any other reason, they might be deemed necessary or desirable.

When the tank is filled there is considerable pressure on the gauntlets, or other protective means of ingress, probably enough to cause them to collapse and possibly be extended through the openings (11). For i this reason means should be provided for preventing the gauntlets or other protective means of ingress being pushed or pressed outwardly through said openings. Such means may take various forms, the arrangement shown in the .present instance simply comprising spiral spring elements (13) extending substantially the length of the gauntlets from the wrist portion to the wall of the tank.

Wall (10) in which openings (11) are provided being transparent the operator would, no doubt, be able to see within the tank sufficient for his purposes. However, in order that an ample quantity of light may penetrate the liquid it is preferred thatall four side walls .of the tank be of transparent material.

It will 'be understood that the .embodiment illustrated and described may be modified in various respects without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The present invention, in its broadest aspect, COIISIStS in the 'PIOVISIOII of a tank whose lnterior, when filled with liquid, is

accesible to the operator outside of the tank permitting full view of the patient while inside of the tank and permitting manipula tive treatment without wetting the clohing or person of the operator.

If amplelight be provided in or on the interior of thetank the necessity of providing large areas of transparent materials in the walls of the tank might be eliminated. Sufficient light 'could' be provided in some artificial way so that it will be necessary to provide only an opening with ,a transparent closure in an otherwise opaque wall of the tank. This alternate provision to be at the discretion of the patentee.

Forsuch cases as may require'electrical, thermal, or light treatment, suitable means for the administration of such treatment may be attached, installed or applied in,.through or over thewalls or said tank insuchmanner as shall be best adapted therefor by the operator.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a tank adapted to contain a liquid inwhich the patients member or part to be treated may be immersed, one wall of said tank being transparent, and means attached to a wall ofthe tankbelow thenormal level ofliquid therein by whichan operator on the exterior of the tank may grasp the .pa-tients immersed member or part with his hand and manipulate it withoutthe escapement of the immersing liquid and without wetting-the clothing or person of the opera-" tor.

' 2. Anapparatus of'the character described,

comprising a-tankadapted to contain a liquid in which the patients member or part to be treated may be immersed, the interior of said tank being visible from the outside thereof, and means attached to the tank below the normal level of liquid therein by which an operator may grasp the patients immersed member or part with his hand for the purpose of control or manipulatiomand without wetting the clothing or person of the operator.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a tank to contain a liquid in which the patients member or part to be treated may be immersed, the side walls of said tank being transparent, and a pair of gauntlets attached to one wall. of the tank below the normal level of liquid therein into which an'operator on the exterior ofthe tank may project his hands and arms throughsaid wall, whereby he may grasp the immersed limb or part of the patient in the tank for the purpose of administering manipulative treatment, and without wetting the clothing or person of the operator.

4-. An apparatus of the characterdescribed, comprising a tank adapted to contain a liquid in which patients member or part to be treated may be immersed, the side walls of said tank being transparent, and a pair of .gauntlets attached to one wall of the tank into which an operator on the exterior of the tank may pro ect his handsand arms where- .by he may grasp the immersedlimb or part of the patient iii-the tank for the purpose of administering manipulative treatment without wetting the clothing-or person of the operator, and means for holding said gauntlets distended in the tank when the operators hands are withdrawn.

5. An apparatusof the character described, comprising a tank adapted to contain a liquid in which the .patients member or part to be treated may be immersed, said member or part when so immersed being visible from the exterior of the tank, and means below the normal level of liquid in said tank for permitting an operator to grasp the immersed member or part with his hand for manlpulatwo treatment, and without wetting'the clothmg orperson of the operator.

6. An apparatus of the character described,

comprising a tank adapted to-contain a liquid in which a patients member or part to be treated may beyimmersed, one wall of said tank having a transparent .portion through which the immersed member or part is visible fromthe exterior of thetank, andmeans below the normal level of liquid in said tank for permitting an operator on the-exterior of the tank to treat said immersed member or part by manipulation with his hand, and without wetting the clothing or person ofthe operator.

7. An apparatus oi'the characterdescribed, comprising a tank adapted to contain a liquid in which the patients member orpartto be treated may be'immersed, being equipped with suitable means for the administration of electrical, thermal or light treatments at discretion of operator, one Wall of said tank having a transparent portion and a pair of armlets, gauntlets, gloves, or other protective means of ingress attached thereto and means for holding said gauntlets or other means of ingress, distended in the tank When the operators hands are in or Withdrawn from such apparatus, permitting an operator on the exterior of the tank to administer treatment to patient Within the tank Without Wetting the clothing or person of the operator, thereby enabling him to more conveniently and efficiently administer manipulative treatment by the flotation process.

PETER J. PEEL. 

